akthor
Well-Known Member
The LHBS I've been to had a mill but you had to mill it yourself. No charge.
The LHBS I've been to had a mill but you had to mill it yourself. No charge.
$0.10/lb is not much but man, I'd spend a million bucks on my own mill before I'd pay it. Not charging for milling feels friendly. That is how both of my shops operate.
Every HBS I've ever been in the owners and/or employees always seem to have a snobby or holier than thou attitude. Every shop I've been to has always been great at making me feel stupid if I ask a question that apparently everyone should know the answer to.
I guess I understand what you're saying but I'll give you my perspective as a shop owner.
I have to ask why you think a value added service should be free? Weighing out grain in a bag takes 5 minutes. Milling it adds labor and machine costs. It saves you from having to buy your own mill. Another way to look at it is, why should people that take whole grain away have to pay the same amount as someone who gets it milled?
lol, but some of them are whiners. I managed a retail bicycle shop in college, and I loved the work, but there is no doubt that a certain small percentage of customers create more work and annoyance than they are worth. The key is to encourage them to shop elsewhere without pissing them off, lol.
I tried to think of some things I would want in an LHBS that my local shop (homebrewstuff in garden city ID) doesn't already do, and I couldn't think of any. They do the virtual sacks of grain for base malts so I can buy in bulk without the hassle, they stock lots, at reasonable prices, the staff brews, so they are reasonably knowledgeable, they have 10+ rotating commercial micros on tap so I can have a beer while measuring out grains, they seem to have pretty fresh yeast (oldest i've seen is 3 months or so from mfr date, but maybe I am buying the popular yeasts), they are open evenings, host the local homebrew club, exchange co2 tanks, and rent various kinds of specialty equipment.
I guess my only minor complaint is that their mill is adjusted a bit loose. My efficiency went from mid 60-s to high 70's when I got my own mill.
So the store has physical and retail access, and prices inside the retail store can be more than prices in their own online store? And they won't price match themselves?
I am sure there are a lot of really excellent business reasons that it has to be that way ... but it doesn't make the end result any less irritating for the customer!
Can't imagine waiting for staff to handle my grain! That would drive me crazy even if there was no added cost.
It's a judgement call for sure. The staff handling grain is protection from having grain intermingled. You know, customer just added 2 pounds of crystal 80L to 10 pounds of pale but meant to get 20L instead. It hasn't been paid for yet so, whooops it all goes back into the pale bin or whatever other bin. I'm not saying all customers would do this or even .1% would. However, that .1% can make every bin questionable.
Convenience over quality control and vice versa. It's a big decision.
Yes, it slows things down when grain is being weighed out and milled. We highly encourage people to order ahead through the website. We also have grain order slips at the counter that can be filled out rather than dictating the bill to the employees.
Yes it's completely irritating! If she gave me a legitimate reason for the price difference I would have been ok with it but for the response I got I was just taken back. I didn't argue it b/c I needed Star San today but this was the last straw for me doing business there anymore. Unless I am in a pinch and can't wait for delivery times then I will go there, otherwise I'll look at other alternatives from here on out.
I wanted to buy a bark collar from Petco and it was something like $40 online and $55 in the store. the store manager explained that online was a different profit center with lower cost (no store front, fewer employees, easier to process, etc - all of which I knew and understand).
The store manager matched their own price anyway.
I think your local was operating somewhat under this premise although it shouldn't matter, for them, if they sold it off the shelf or had a person pack and ship - unless they had a "handling fee" to make a few extra coins.
I wanted to buy a bark collar from Petco and it was something like $40 online and $55 in the store
Maybe get some of those bark collars for Bobby's customers misbehaving at the grain bins.
Todd
One of my biggest pet peeves of my local LHBS is that they charge you $.10/lb to grind your grain. I hate being nickel and dimed. Just charge a little bit more for your grains. Then another LHBS will let me bring in grains I have bought elsewhere and use there mill for free. Also, the one that charges, all grains are behind the counter, along with yeast and hops, and they are all over you right when you come in the door with tons of questions of why you are there. The one that has free grinding you measure out your own grain, and hops with their scales. They really leave you on your own unless you ask for help. When done I bring up my sack of grain and tell them what I have.
I have two stores like this. One will occasionally come back and ask me what I am brewing, but other than that they leave me alone. If I feel like talking or asking a question I will, you don't need to hover.
Also to the earlier comment about the mill leading to a lawsuit, I believe (not a lawyer) a use at your own risk sign should suffice to CYA. I do wish America wasn't so litigious, it is ruining it for people with common sense.
I have to ask why you think a value added service should be free? Weighing out grain in a bag takes 5 minutes. Milling it adds labor and machine costs. It saves you from having to buy your own mill. Another way to look at it is, why should people that take whole grain away have to pay the same amount as someone who gets it milled?
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